By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: West Garo Hills DC Sanjay Goel on Friday said the cases of illegal medical practice by quacks without any valid licenses, which was on the rise in the District in the recent past, has come under control to some extent as a result of the recent crack down by the district administration.
At the same time, the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Meghalaya has deputed a drug inspector to keep an eye on these practices.
The drug inspector, as learnt, has issued show cause notices to many such practitioners while making its presence felt in affected areas of the district. Some homeopathic doctors who were practicing allopathic medicine in Tura and Nakam Bazar were caught recently in a raid by the district administration.
“These practitioners move from one place to another practicing their trade as they don’t have any regular set up and are confined to the plain belts,” the DC said.
On the allegation that the Garo Hills region has become a safe haven for such thug practitioners, the DC said it would be harsh to tag the area likewise. Terming them as basically “quacks” who survive on human ignorance, the DC said they mainly operate in remote areas where it gets difficult for the administration to keep track of things. Reacting to a query about one Salchiba Marak, a nurse with the Tura Civil Hospital, who has been absent from duty for the last one year and has allegedly joined the GNLA outfit, the DC said the matter was taken up with the SP.
Meanwhile, Rowell Lyngdoh, Deputy Chief Minister, Health and Family Welfare said that the Directorate of Health Services has not yet registered any cases with him so far.